Wade, 28, will add to the Ravens’ secondary depth, and he offers a decent amount of experience: 47 total appearances, including 32 over the past two seasons. A former seventh-round pick of the Browns, Wade spent 2015-16 with the Giants. Last year, he started two contests and played on roughly a third of New York’s defensive snaps and another third of the club’s special teams snaps.

Shabazz, meanwhile, had just joined Baltimore’s roster in June. If he clears waivers, he’ll revert to the Ravens’ injured reserve list. At that point, the 25-year-old could either spend the year on IR, or be released with an injury settlement.

The Steelers made several moves in advance of their Week 16 clash with the Ravens, signing defensive lineman Johnny Maxey and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. To make room, Pittsburgh cut running back Daryl Richardson and moved cornerback Shamarko Thomas to IR.

With Darius Slay‘s status murky for Monday night’s Lions-Cowboys game, Detroit promoted second-year cornerback Alex Carter from its practice squad, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (on Twitter). Carter came to the Motor City as a third-round pick in 2015 but saw an injury scrap his rookie season and did not make the 2016 team out of training camp. Carter, who will take Corey Lemonier‘s roster spot, has yet to play in an NFL game despite the Day 2 draft pedigree.

The Ravens placed second-round rookie Kamalei Correa on IR with a rib injury and promoted Brennen Beyer from their practice squad to take his place, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports. Correa finishes the season with three tackles and a fumble forced in nine games (one start).

]]>0Texans Activate Brennan Scarletthttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/12/texans-activate-brennan-scarlett
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/12/texans-activate-brennan-scarlett#commentsSat, 17 Dec 2016 19:06:54 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=47310As expected, Brennan Scarlett will be rejoining the Texans this weekend. Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston reports (via Twitter) that the organization has activated the rookie linebacker from the injured reserve. To make room on the roster, the team has waived cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz. We learned earlier this week that Scarlett had been designated as the club’s injured reserve/return player.

The undrafted rookie out of Stanford was a revelation through the preseason and the first month of the season. In five games, the linebacker only compiled five tackles, but coaches noted the 23-year-old’s “size and aggressiveness.” Furthermore, as our own Dallas Robinson pointed out, Scarlett was widely regarded as one of the team’s best pass rushers throughout the preseason. In total, Scarlett played 29 defensive snaps and 63 special teams snaps before being sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Scarlett’s activation is especially impressive considering the other names sitting on the Texans injured reserve. As Dallas pointed out, J.J. Watt, Braxton Miller, Jaelen Strong, Derek Newton, Kevin Johnson, Nick Martin, and Devon Stillare all out for the season, and Scarlett’s activation means these players will remain on the injured reserve. While the linebacker was presumably activated because he was the healthiest of the bunch, it’s still impressive for an undrafted rookie to be so highly regarded by an organization.

Shabazz has bounced around the league since going undrafted out of West Chester in 2015. The cornerback spent the 2015 season with the Colts and Buccaneers, and he spent the majority of this season with the Steelers. The 24-year-old was cut by the organization in early December, and he was picked up by the Texans only days later. Shabazz ultimately played in one game with the Texans.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>1Texans Waive Charles James IIhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/12/texans-waive-charles-james
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/12/texans-waive-charles-james#respondMon, 05 Dec 2016 21:40:41 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=46124The Texans have waived cornerback Charles James, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets. To take his spot, the Texans have claimed cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz off waivers from the Steelers. Moments ago, James took to Instagram to bid farewell to Houston (sic):

“My time in Houston is up I gave y’all everything I had. All I have is good memories about this place. I’m truly sorry I couldn’t be better in the most precious moments but I’m only human and life happens I’ve learned to take the Good with the Bad the Ups with the Downs. God is the center and head of my life so I got trust in the man upstairs that my life will pan out the way it should. To the people who know my story, my journey, my testimony you’ll know it’s just a detour in the road. Imma miss y’all boys in the locker room especially my boys in the DB room we had special times man. Later for now H town.”

On Sunday, James slipped in the snow and gave up a long touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson. Slipping in the snow is forgivable, to many, but the Texans apparently did not see it that way. James, 26, first gained some fans when he was featured on Hard Knocks while with the Ravens. He did not make the active roster in Baltimore, but he saw some in-game action when he joined the Texans last season.

Shabazz, an undrafted rookie out of West Chester in 2015, bounced between the Steelers’ active roster and practice squad this season. Over the weekend, he was dropped by Pittsburgh. In five career games, the cornerback has collected one tackle.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>0Steelers Sign Randy Bullockhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/12/steelers-sign-randy-bullock
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/12/steelers-sign-randy-bullock#commentsSat, 03 Dec 2016 16:22:54 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=45934Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was listed as questionable on the team’s latest injury report, so the team has signed another kicker as insurance. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (via Twitter) that the Steelers have signed veteran kicker Randy Bullock. To make room on the roster, the team has released cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz (via Bouchette).

Bullock, 26, was the Giants’ kicker during their season opener as Josh Brownserved his one-game suspension. The former fifth-rounder made two of his three extra point attempts, and he was subsequently waived by the team in mid-September. Since then, Bullock has gotten auditions with both the Bengals and Vikings. In three-plus seasons in the NFL, Bullock has connected on 80.6-percent of his field goal attempts and nearly 96-percent of his extra point attempts. Bullock has also been productive on kickoffs, averaging 65.9-yards per kick during his career.

Boswell, 25, had a breakout season in 2015, connecting on 90.6-percent of his field goals. However, that number has dropped this season, as the kicker has only connected on 75-percent of his field goal attempts. Boswell is currently recovering from an abdominal injury, according to Bouchette.

Shabazz, an undrafted rookie out of West Chester in 2015, has bounced between the Steelers’ active roster and practice squad this season. In five career games, the cornerback has collected one tackle.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>2Steelers Place Cody Wallace On IRhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/11/steelers-place-cody-wallace-on-ir
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/11/steelers-place-cody-wallace-on-ir#respondSat, 05 Nov 2016 17:51:08 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=43422Cody Wallace‘s season has ended before it even started. According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter), the Steelers have placed the offensive lineman on the injured reserve. To take his place on the roster, the team has signed cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz.

Wallace has been battling a mystery knee ailment for the entire season, preventing him from taking the field. The backup lineman originally suffered the injury during the preseason, and the ailment was initially diagnosed as a hyperextended knee. However, over time, it was clear that the lineman also suffered bone bruising, and Wallace’s knee showed little response to treatment. In his absence, B.J. Finney has served as the team’s interior backup lineman.

The former-fourth rounder has bounced around a bit during his nine-year career, as the lineman has also spent time with the 49ers, Lions, Jets, Texans and Buccaneers. Wallace had a bit of a breakout season in 2015, starting all 16 games in place of injured lineman Maurkice Pouncey. The 31-year-old has made 49 NFL appearances, and he signed a three-year extension with the Steelers back in 2014.

Shabazz, an undrafted free agent out of West Chester in 2015, has also spent time with the Colts and Buccaneers. The 24-year-old has appeared in one game this season, collecting one tackle.

Prior to promoting Hamilton, the Steelers had only three healthy receivers: Antonio Brown, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Eli Rogers (who himself missed the last two games with turf toe). Markus Wheaton has already been ruled out of today’s game against Miami with a shoulder injury, and as Bouchette tweets, Sammie Coates is dealing with a broken left index finger in addition to a laceration above his left palm. Sources have told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Coates will be a game-time decision today, and even if he is active, one has to wonder how effective he will be.

Hamilton, whom the Bengals selected in the sixth round of the 2013 draft, has only appeared in one game in his NFL career (in 2014 with Cincinnati). He has also been with the Panthers, Dolphins, and Eagles. Pittsburgh signed him in August of this year, and he was part of the club’s final roster cuts before joining the practice squad on September 4.

Shabazz, a rookie from D-II West Chester, also joined the Steelers’ practice squad on September 4. He had his shot on the active roster last week, when he played six snaps on defense and 12 on special teams. Per Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Steelers will try to re-sign Shabazz to the practice squad next week if he clears waivers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>0Steelers Place Golson, Harris On IRhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/10/steelers-place-senquez-golson-ryan-harris-on-ir
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/10/steelers-place-senquez-golson-ryan-harris-on-ir#respondSat, 08 Oct 2016 20:33:51 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=40719Senquez Golson‘s Steelers debut might have to wait until 2017, depending on what happens with the team’s injury situation this season.

Pittsburgh placed the second-year cornerback on IR, where he will join backup tackle Ryan Harris, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). A preseason foot injury sidelined Golson, but the Steelers previously kept him on their active roster. The 2015 second-round pick spent the entirety of last season on IR.

This move isn’t entirely unexpected since Golson underwent foot surgery in early August, with the procedure’s rehab timeline hovering around four months. He missed all of last season due to an August shoulder operation. The Steelers can bring Golson back later in the year, but Golson has to miss at least eight weeks’ worth of games and six weeks’ worth of practices, per the tweaked IR rules.

Harris was injured against the Chiefs while starting for the ailing Marcus Gilbert at right tackle. He’d been the swing man behind Gilbert and Alejandro Villanueva this season after signing for two years and $3.9MM this offseason. The 31-year-old Harris began 2015 as the Broncos’ starting right tackle before injuries elsewhere relocated him to the left side, where he started the final 15 games for the Super Bowl champions.

Harris’ injury leaves Chris Hubbard as the Steelers’ starting right tackle Sunday against the Jets. Maurkice Pouncey took reps at right tackle this week despite having never played there in a game.

]]>0Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC Northhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/09/sunday-nfl-transactions-afc-north
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/09/sunday-nfl-transactions-afc-north#respondSun, 04 Sep 2016 23:33:38 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=36884Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

As Fowler observes, the Steelers’ recent wave of offensive lineman cuts could be good news for B.J. Finney, who came into today firmly on the roster bubble. Feiler, like Feeney, is a practice squad candidate.

Hooks, an Ole Miss product, was signed by the Packers as a UDFA following the 2015 draft, but Green Bay cut him last August as part of the 75-man cutdown. He caught on with the Steelers in February, and at least made it to the final cutdown day, so that qualifies as progress.

Ahmed was part of the Falcons’ crop of UDFAs this year but was waived by Atlanta last month. The Temple product made the switch from defensive lineman to offensive lineman during his junior year, and he started 12 of 13 games at left guard for the feel-good Owls last year.

Rory Parks contributed to this post

]]>0Workout Notes: 2/9/16https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/02/workout-notes-2916
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/02/workout-notes-2916#respondWed, 10 Feb 2016 00:02:23 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=24747NFL’s 2016 free agent period doesn’t officially open until March 9th, but players who didn’t finish the season on a roster – or who have since been cut – are free to work out with teams and sign contracts right away. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle has several updates on those free agents who are visiting and/or auditioning for NFL teams, so let’s round up the latest:

Veteran defensive back Jeromy Miles and ex-Broncos tight end Dan Light recently auditioned for the Chiefs (Twitter link). Miles, who has appeared in 67 career regular-season games for the Bengals and Ravens, was cut last September by the Giants, while Light lost his practice squad spot in Denver following the team’s AFC Championship win over New England.

The Bengals recently worked out – but did not sign – offensive tackle Sean Donnelly, safety ZachElias, running back Alonzo Harris, running back Storm Johnson and wide receiver Rico Richardson (Twitter link). Those players were part of a larger group of eight, with the remaining three players earning contracts.

Former Cowboys defensive tackle Ken Bishop, a seventh-round pick in 2014, worked out for the Buccaneers (Twitter link).

The Chiefs have signed former UConn wide receiver Kashif Moore to a reserve-futures deal, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). Moore, a New Jersey native, has spent time with the Steelers, Bengals, Texans, Colts, and Chargers.

The Steelers announced that they have signed wide receiver Issac Blakeney, cornerback Montell Garner, wide receiver Tobais Palmer, and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz to reserve-future deals.

The Seahawks signed wide receiver Tyler Slavin to a futures contract, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets. Slavin was on Seattle’s practice squad for a short time this season.